Glad to see US get the 2-0 win tonight...but man, I would love to remove any uncertainty a little earlier than extra time when we're a man up. Far too many missed passes or turnovers in the final 20 minutes. I'd like to see us go one of two ways: 1) Let's go all out for the second goal 2) Let's go cynical and kill off the game It seems like we did neither tonight. This is a total nit-pick - I think we were clearly the better team tonight. However, I think this is the next step in our evolution as a soccer power: knowing how and when to kill off a game. Any other opinions on this? Could we have subbed in guys earlier? P.S. Thanks again, Rafa!
We were poor from about the 70s minute on. I completely agree about this program evolving.... learning when to put the pedal down, right on their throat, etc. Bad stuff from both teams for 15 to 20 minutes in the 2nd half indeed.
I agree 100%. VERY poor attacking play despite a man advantage. Could not string passes together and did not pressure the ball well. Mexico actually had some pretty decent chances late in the game when they should have been chasing shadows as a result of the man advantage. Obviously, the defending was bad as well.
After Marquez was sent off, Bradley needed to make some subs to help swing the game into our favor. He did not. We still won, mainly because we are just better than Mexico at the moment. Straight up. With smart tactical subs this game was 3-0. easy.
Considering the field was soggy and the wind was fierce, I thought the US managed the game quite well while up a man. Mexico didn't really commit numbers forward until there were a few minutes left, then the US punished them with Altidore's fresh legs, and Bradley and Donovan's superior fitness. Mexico looked like a side that was ok with a 1-0 loss...like a side that feels they may need goal differential in the future.
up a man, Sacha and Bradley MUST move the ball quickly side to side to open up the defense, especially one that still has to play for a goal to tie. They did not, and it seemed so obvious that it must have been intentional. Obviously BB was taking no chances (at least in his mind).
Exactly...we should've worked the ball side-to-side and run the Mexican forwards/midfielders to death. It's not so much about pressing for the goal as it is completely disabling your opponent from playing good defense, much less attacking. The goals will come as you tire your opponent. We tried to play too direct and our defense resorted to kickball (almost as if we were down a goal and trying to push for an equalizer). The other thing was Frankie. He shouldn't have had to played injured...not when you have three subs. Bob's system emphasizes the FBs to stretch the field, which Frankie had a hard time doing on a bad wheel. Wynne should've come on. If you're worried about cover for the RB with Wynne in the game, then flip Bease to the right side and Demps to the left. We played basically 10 v. 10 once Frankie was hurt.
A Bob Bradley team take the game to the other team while up a man? Preposterous! Seriously, Davies would have been a perfect sub for that situation instead of one of the million d's on the bench.
I agree that we should've pressed once Mexico went down a man...force the issue and see if you can create a cushion with a 2-goal lead. We didn't do that, and Bob and the players probably deserve some blame for that. Also, I thought this was the poorest performance I've ever seen out of Mexico in a match against the USA. They, for the most part, played as though they couldn't be bothered. Yes, it was a weakened squad (without Guardado, Vela, Torrado, Arce, Magallon, etc.), but I would expect more out of guys like Pardo, Dos Santos and Medina. Carlos Ochoa really was lousy up front for El Tri. He has no business in a NT uniform and I can't see how he got the call ahead of guys like Guillermo Franco and Omar Bravo. Seriously, Brian Ching is a better player than Carlos Ochoa. If I was a Mexican NT fan, I'd be seriously concerned about the arc of my national team's performance from the last half of the semifinal round (0-2-1) and tonight (2-0 loss).
The incessant knee-jerk Bradley bashing is beyond tiresome: http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2009/02/11/us_mexico.html?sid=101
Once hejduk got hurt, bradley could have switched dempsey and beasly and then put wynne on. However i cant really blame him for not putting in wynne, whos basically the third stringer (with cherundolo being out) in a tight spot against mexico. As for as subs go, jozy should have absolutely been subbed in 10 minutes earlier than he was. That would have created a 2nd goal earlier with his fresh legs and scoring ability against a tired 10 men side. Also, kinda a side note, donovan was too unselfish tonight. He did not take on players one on one enough, and with the space of only 10 men playing, his playmaking ability, creativity and skills could have led to a goal. imo
IMO, if we were outplaying them 11 v. 11, we should've been able to outplay them 11 v. 10 with Wynne in the game. As I said in another thread, why have him on the roster if you don't feel he's prepared to help the team in THIS game? Hell, if you don't want Frankie in there and you don't trust Wynne, drop Califf in and slide Bocanegra to LB and flip Pearce to the right. There are several substitution combinations you could make to keep the 11 v. 10 advantage. We had no width on the right once Frankie got injured.
Yeah. I was screaming at the tv, "where is wynn" when frankie clearly was not 100%. Also screaming for altidore when ching was done at about minute 68. This change took way to long. There is incesseant Bradley bashing here, because Bradley deserves it. I am in the camp that believes this teams wins despite Bradely, and wonder what would happen with a Guus Hiddink calibur coach at the helm.
Hard to go 1 v. 1 when you're constantly surrounded by 3 or 4 players. I can recall one instance of 1 v. 1 - vs. Marquez and he almost got it by him. But Marquez played that one well. I wish the whole team would have picked up the pace when they went down to 10. For some reason, only a few players tried to (Donovan was one of them, I might add - Bradley too) and I actually thought Dempsey slowed down the most. Up until then, I liked Dempsey's game and thought he had played very well, but for some reason he mentally shut down at that point. A speedy sub for someone would have been nice at that time.